Vipassana Warrior

I just got back from 10 days Vipassana Course and wanted to jot down some practices and thoughts for people who might be interested to know more.

What is Vipasana?

Vipasana means “to see things as they really are”. A meditation technique that was developed by Buddha in its purest form 2500 years ago.It was reintroduced by Mr.S.N.Goenka.

It is non religious,non dogmatic,non sectorial,not a belief or any kind of group or cult.It is just a technique intended to help you explore the nature of reality

what happens at the 10 day course?

10 days of no electronics, Noble silence for 9 days(you are allowed to talk on the 10th day), no gestures or eye contact with another, no reading or writing, one meal a day before noon(there are breakfast and tea around 5.00) and 11 hours of meditation.

During those 10 days you sit all day sharpening the the mind to become aware of what is happening inside your body at the sensation level.Yes its about sitting all day with mild to gross sensations and accepting them as they are instead of escaping, avoiding, discharging or ignoring. These sensations are what leads to reactions and hence behavior.

Everyday schedule:

• 4a.m- gong, wake up call
• 4.30-6.30a.m -meditate
• 6.30-8.00a.m- breakfast
• 8.00-11.00a.m- meditate
• 11.00-1.00 -lunch/break
• 1.00-5.00p.m- meditate
• 5.00-6.00- tea break
• 6.00-7.00 – meditate
• 7.00 – 8.00- discourse
• 8.00 -9.00-meditate
• 9.30 p.m -lights out

The discourse by S.N.Goenka was a recorded video which provided guidelines and context for what we worked on each day.I really loved this part.He is so wise and super funny.

There were one male and one women teacher who where husband and wife but they rarely spoke.if you need to speak to the teacher you can write down you name in the sign up sheet and you will be called.

Breakfast you get cereals,oatmeal,bread,someday there was dhokla(steamed cakes), upma(grits) and poha(flattened rice)

lunch was really good. every day we had selection of soups,salad,rice,curries.somedays pasta,noodles,thai food. absolutely enjoyed it.

Tea time was ginger tea without milk and some fruit and No, you will not feel hungry.

My experience

I have been meditating for a long time now but Vipassana is something else. Sitting with yourself for such long hours will bring up deep rooted pain, not only physical but also emotional. And the pain is unbelievable.
Point of the meditation is to
1. Observe the sensation without judgement,craving or aversion.
2.This craving for good sensations and aversion towards uncomfortable sensation is what leads to suffering.
3.When we satisfy a craving or aversion,the satisfaction is fleeting and never permanent.Craving and aversion just multiply when you satisfy them hence controlled by these sensation all the time.
4.Watching these thoughts you realize the impermanence nature of these sensations hence you have power over them.
5.Understand the nature of the thoughts which is thoughts of the past and future.
6.Some times the meditation would be amazing and sometimes very painful and not focused.either ways you realize the impermanence nature.

Some takeaways

I am glad i did this.Would I do it again?Absolutely.Would I recommend it?Not every is ready or wants to go through this but if you are interested in self improvement,building strong resilience muscle,be unafraid of pain then all I can say is YOU CAN DO IT!!